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Bautista homers in Bucs' win

Bautista homers in Bucs' win

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By Kelly Thesier
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MLB.com |

PIRATES 3, TWINS 1at Fort Myers, Fla.Friday, March 28

Pirates at the plate: Jose Bautista belted a solo home run to left field in the second inning. It was one of only three hits the Pirates tallied in the first six innings. Bautista got the offense going again in the seventh, doubling to left field to lead off the inning. With the bases loaded later in the inning following a Ronny Paulino single and a walk by Doug Mientkiewicz, Bautista scored the go-ahead run on a double-play ball by Chris Gomez.

Twins at the plate: Adam Everett singled to left field in the fifth inning, driving in Mike Lamb from second base. Lamb had a strong day at the plate, rapping three hits and scoring a run.

Pirates on the mound: Starter Phil Dumatrait -- named to the Bucs' final roster before the game and starting in the place of a scratched Paul Maholm -- pitched three scoreless innings, walking two and striking out three. Right-hander Tyler Yates and right-hander Chris Hernandez each pitched one scoreless inning. Left-hander John Grabow gave up one run on two hits in his one inning of work.

Twins on the mound: Left-hander Francisco Liriano made one final push to break camp with the Twins, giving up just one run on three hits over five innings. He struck out seven and walked two while throwing around 74 pitches. Right-hander Brian Bass gave up one run on two hits and walked one in his two innings of work.

Grapefruit League records: Twins 14-14, Pirates 12-16.

Up next for the Pirates: With their roster finally set to open the season, the Bucs will take the field at McKechnie Field one last time Saturday for their final game of the Grapefruit League season. The Pirates will host the Twins at 1:05 p.m. ET in a final tuneup for starter Matt Morris. Immediately following the game, the Pirates will fly to Atlanta, where they begin the regular season Monday night.

Up next for the Twins: Minnesota will close out its 2008 Spring Training Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday by facing Pittsburgh at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla., at 12:05 p.m. CT. Right-hander Kevin Slowey gets the final start against Morris.

Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.